Multi-Chamber Bag

ABSTRACT

A multiple-compartment container comprising: two or more panels sealed together to form a container; a supplemental cavity adhered within the container to one of the panels; and a burst seal on the supplemental cavity configured to release contents of the supplemental cavity upon application of force from a user. The multiple-compartment container can be efficiently filled by first filling the supplemental containers, then affixing the supplemental containers to a panel of the main container, next joining the panel with others to form the main container, then filling and sealing the main container.

PRIORITY CLAIMS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/747,556, filed Dec. 31, 2012, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Many varieties of storage and packaging containers are known and used.Certain containers are more suitable for certain goods. Plastic bags, inparticular, are a very convenient packaging format for many goods sincethey are inexpensive, easy to manufacture and fill, and take up littlespace once empty.

Some goods have more than one component, yet benefit from keeping thecomponents separated until ready for use. For example, many food itemshave both solid and liquid components—salad and salad dressing,sandwiches and condiments, nachos and cheese, crackers and spread, chipsand dip. If the liquid components contact solid component duringstorage, the solid components tend to become soggy or stale.Additionally, some components can be optional—desired by some customersbut not by others. By keeping such components separate, the customer canchose whether to partake.

Several devices have been proposed for separation of components duringstorage, each with significant drawbacks. For example, some devicesprovide separate compartments outside of a main compartment. In suchcases, once a user has emptied the contents of the separate container,the user must hold or dispose of the separate compartment, which may bemessy. Other solutions require complicated processes and equipment forfilling. Still others use rigid or semi rigid construction, which takeup unnecessary space in trash receptacles and landfills after use.

SUMMARY

These and other problems are solved by inventions taught herein,including a multiple-compartment container comprising two or more panelssealed together to form a container (e.g., a bag); a supplemental cavity(e.g. a pouch) adhered within the container to one of the panels; and aburst seal on the supplemental cavity configured to release contents ofthe supplemental cavity upon application of force from a user. Themultiple-compartment container can be efficiently filled by firstfilling the supplemental containers, then affixing the supplementalcontainers to a panel of the main container, next joining the panel withothers to form the main container, then filling and sealing the maincontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments and whichare incorporated in the specification hereof by reference, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with multiple chambers.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment for a container.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating one method for making and filling acontainer with multiple chambers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a container 10 configured to hold multipleingredients (not shown). Container 10 is preferably a bag made ofpolyethylene or other plastic. A main cavity 12, preferably comprises atleast two side panels 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, side panels14 are fused together to create main cavity 12. Side panels 14 can byfused by application of heat and pressure, or by many other knownmethods.

Container 10 preferably comprises a tear strip 16 defined near an upperedge 18 of side panels 14. Tear strip 16 is configured to provide aneasy opening. Tear strip 16 can comprise perforations 22, or otherfeatures to facilitate opening of container 10. Container 10 preferablyfurther comprises a resealing strip 24. Resealing strip 24 preferablycomprises a zipper seal as commonly found on sandwich bags. Container 10further comprises a handle 26 defined near a top edge of side panels 14.Handle 26 is positioned below tear strip 16 so that handle 26 can beused after container 10 is opened.

Located within main cavity 12 are supplemental cavities 28. Supplementalcavities 28 are configured to store additional ingredients and keep theadditional ingredients physically separate from ingredients in maincavity 12. Supplemental cavities 28 comprise plastic pouches that arepreferably adhered to one or more side panel 14. Alternatively,supplemental cavities 28 can be formed by separately sealing a portionof side panels 14 together.

Supplemental cavities 28 preferably comprise a burst seal 32, configuredto release contents upon an application of pressure by a user.Supplemental cavities 28 and burst seal 32 are configured so that a usercan release contents from outside of container 10 and while avoidingcontact with any ingredients. Supplemental cavities 28 also preferablyremain attached to side panel 14 after contents are released, so thatsupplemental cavities 28 do not become mixed with ingredients in maincavity 12. Alternatively, supplemental cavities 28 can comprise otherrelease mechanisms (not shown) such as a tear strip or zipper.

FIG. 2 shows a section view of container 10. This view illustrates onepossible placement of supplemental cavities 28 within container 10.Alternatively, additional supplemental cavities 28 (not shown) can beplaced in container 10.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a container10′. Container 10′ comprises a pleated bottom 304 between side panels14. In addition, many other container and bag types are known and can beused with aspects of the disclosed inventions.

FIG. 4 is a flow-chart illustrating a method of filling container 10with ingredients. In step 402, supplemental cavities, which areconnected in a chain, are filled on a filling line. In step 404,supplemental cavities 28 are sealed and separated into groups to beinserted into a container 10. Each group preferably comprises the samenumber of supplemental cavities 28 as the number of ingredients placedin supplemental cavities 28.

Next, in step 406, supplemental cavities 28 are affixed to side panel14, preferably using a food-grade adhesive. Side panel 14 has preferablybeen pre-printed with any necessary or desired labeling.

In step 408, side panel 14 is bonded with another side panel 14 to formcontainer 10. In step 410, ingredients are placed in container 10. Next,in step 412, container 10 is closed and sealed.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limitingsense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well asalternative embodiments of the inventions, will be apparent to personsskilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention.It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover suchmodifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple-compartment container comprising: twoor more panels sealed together to form a container; a supplementalcavity affixed within the container to one of the panels; and a burstseal on the supplemental cavity configured to release contents of thesupplemental cavity into the container upon application of force from auser.
 2. The multiple-compartment container of claim 1 wherein thesupplemental cavity is configured to release contents of thesupplemental cavity upon application of force from a user, with theapplication of force occurring outside of the container.
 3. Themultiple-compartment container of claim 1 wherein the supplementalcavity is affixed to one of the panels with food-grade adhesive.
 4. Amethod for filling a multiple-compartment container comprising: placinga first ingredient in a supplemental cavity; affixing the supplementalcavity to a first container wall panel; binding the container wall panelto a second container wall panel to form a container; placing a secondingredient in the container; and sealing the container.